Distracted & Reckless Drivers in New Mexico

Helping injured motorists and pedestrians in and around Albuquerque

Drivers have a tremendous responsibility as they steer automobiles that can weigh as much as 4,500 lbs. along New Mexico's roads. Speeding exacerbates the potential severity of a crash. However, even while travelling at lower speeds, distracted and careless drivers put other motorists and pedestrians at risk of serious and fatal injuries. What makes reckless driving accidents more devastating is how completely preventable they were, had drivers paid attention to the road and acted with care.

Revo Smith Law was established 30 years ago in Albuquerque to serve the needs of injured clients throughout New Mexico. Our auto accident attorneys hold the careless driver who injured you responsible for her or his actions. Our focus remains on obtaining the best possible results in your case and giving you the most comprehensive client support along the way.

Distracted driving is reckless

A car is not the place to multitask. A motorist should concentrate on one thing only — safe driving. Yet, too often, drivers engage in such inappropriate conduct as:

Texting

Talking on the phone

Conversing or arguing with passengers

Entertaining or disciplining children

Adjusting the radio / CD player

Eating or drinking

Reading maps or GPSs

Putting on make-up, brushing hair or shaving

Reaching for items in the back seat or on the floor

These types of distractions take a motorist's eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and mind off of driving.

The dangers of texting and talking while driving

In our modern age, many people own a smartphone. Although this technology improves communication and increases efficiency, it also presents a serious danger when used inappropriately while driving. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers divert their eyes to their phones for an average of 4.6 seconds while texting — meaning, at 55 mph, they travel the length of an entire football field without looking at the roadway.

New Mexico laws regarding tech device use while driving

New Mexico laws ban use of handheld devices for all drivers and use of both handheld and hands-free phones and texting by novice drivers. Young drivers are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving accidents. The official Distraction.gov website estimates that 11 percent of drivers under 20 years old who were involved in fatal wrecks were distracted, making teen fatalities a significant focal point in the laws to end texting, talking and other types of distracted driving.